Individual freedom vs population health
Throughout this pandemic, science (and particularly public health) has been politicized. I don’t fully understand why, but it has and was highlighted yesterday by Abbott’s decision. In short, there’s a battle between individual freedom and population health.
This morning a friend posted their argument for supporting Abbott’s decision. Their statements are in quotations, and my epidemiological perspective follows...
“Greg Abbott doesn’t control your life”.
You’re (kind of) right. As a leader he sets a precedent and tone. And the tone he is setting completely undermines scientists, doctors, nurses, and public health workers that have literally thrown themselves at this pandemic to help you. So, no he doesn’t control our life, but he certainly isn’t making it easier.
“If you don’t feel comfortable not wearing a mask in public then don’t; wear one”.
Masks DO protect the wearer (especially an N95) but not as much as they protect the people around the wearer. So, when a masked person stands in line behind an unmasked person, they aren’t fully protected (they could still get the virus). The masked person IS helping the unmasked person though (you’re welcome). Masks only work best when everyone is wearing one.
“Don’t feel comfortable sitting in a dinning room at a restaurant that is at full capacity take it Togo”.
What about the servers? Or hostesses? Or cooks? Or restaurant managers? Full capacity directly impacts their risk (even if they continue to wear a mask. see #2). So, is this argument telling them to quit? Or worse, forcing them to decide between an income and health? Also, only 7.1% of the Texas population is fully vaccinated and only 1b is eligible. So even if servers wanted to fully protect themselves, they haven’t had the opportunity to. In addition to restaurant workers, I’m looking at the teachers and the grocery store workers and gas station attendants (just to name a few).
“If you don’t feel comfortable going out, things have adapted to get you what you need without leaving your house.”
I don’t have a scientific argument for selfishness.
“We are all adults we can make our own decisions that is best for us and our families. No one is stopping you from protecting yourself.”
Viruses actually don’t work like this. The most threatening thing right now is mutations. The more this thing jumps from person to person (yes, even if you’re asymptomatic) the more opportunity it has to mutate. The more it mutates, the more likely the virus can outsmart our vaccines. So, yes, we can make our own decisions. But your decision to let the virus jump from person to person actually does “stop us from protecting ourselves”.
Bottom line: The virus couldn’t care less of this individualistic approach. In fact, it gives the virus an advantage. In order to successfully combat an infectious disease, we all have to be on the same team.
Some colleagues of mine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that Dallas could reach local herd immunity by June. I have no reason to believe that Dallas is different than any other city or town in Texas. WE ARE SO CLOSE. But we are tripping before the finish line. This decision likely pushes the end date further.
Love, YLE
After more than 1 year and over 1 million dead worldwide, none of this should need to be said.
My friend whose husband is a physician in TX said he supports this bc he believes aerosolized virus can be transmitted through cloth masks. I didn’t really know what to say to that, given the robust data we have at this point.